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Frankfurt/Berlin: The German government has withdrawn its approval for a Chinese takeover of chip equipment maker Aixtron, citing security concerns and throwing up an unexpected hurdle for a 670-million€ ($728 million) deal on the home stretch.

The government had cleared the deal on 8 September but Aixtron said on Monday that the economy ministry had now cancelled the clearance certificate for Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund LP (FGC), a Chinese investment fund controlled by businessman Zhendong Liu, and planned to reopen a review of the takeover.

It had wanted to curb the Chinese company’s influence on what it viewed as a national champion in its push to digitalise German industry, but eventually allowed the takeover after major German shareholders in Kuka sold their stakes to Midea.

Under German law, the government can block takeovers only if they jeopardise energy security, defence or financial stability.

In June, Gabriel called for a Europe-wide safeguard clause which could stop foreign takeovers of firms whose technology is deemed strategic for the future economic success of the region.

Greater scrutiny

Other governments in Europe and the United States have also put China’s offshore ambitions under the spotlight this year.

In July, British prime minister Theresa May also delayed signing off on a $24 billion nuclear power project partly funded by China, citing the need to review the details. She eventually approved the deal in September.

Eric Schweitzer, president of Germany’s DIHK Chambers of Industry and Commerce, warned against putting up further hurdles to Chinese investment in an interview published in German newspaper Handelsblatt on Monday.

German foreign investment in China was worth more than 40 billion € in 2014, far outweighing Chinese investment in Germany of roughly 1.4 billion, according to the foreign ministry.

However, a sharp increase in Chinese business takeovers in Europe—which jumped 44% last year as Beijing pushes firms to expand their global presence— has brought the issue to the forefront of political attention.

In the latest sign of Chinese appetite for German technology, chipmaker Sanan Optoelectronics has said it had been in contact with lighting group Osram about a potential acquisition or cooperation deal.

MM Warburg analyst Malte Schaumann said a move by Berlin to block the takeover of Aixtron would also have negative implications for a deal between Sanan and Osram.

Shares in Aixtron, which makes machines used in the production of red, blue, green and white light emitting diodes (LEDs), were down 10.5% at 5.19€ by 1316 GMT on Monday, well below FGC’s offer price of 6€ per share.

Aixtron’s stock lost nearly half its value late last year on news of a big order cancellation by Sanan, which is also co-financing FGC’s takeover offer.

Aixtron executives have backed FGC’s offer, which ended on Friday. FGC declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

The German company has been trying to return to profit in the face of overcapacity and take back leadership of the global market for LED chip-making equipment from US rival Veeco Instruments.

According to Aixtron’s most recent annual financial report, Veeco held a 53% share of the market for MOCVD equipment, used to make LEDs, in 2014, while Aixtron had 41%

Aixtron executives have warned that the company’s only alternatives to the deal with FGC would be to keep investing its scant funds in new technology in hopes of a recovery of demand, or to shrink its business and its workforce.

A number of other deals are still pending completion, including China’s Shanghai Electric Group takeover of German aviation equipment manufacturer BAW for $219 million and Chengdu Techcent Environment’s acquisition of assets in Germany’s ALBA worth more than 300 million€. Reuters